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Mike White's high school sports chat: 09.12.23
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Mike White
10:55
Are you ready? Is you ready? Yeah, I'm ready -- so let's chat.
Indiana Ike
10:55
Mike - there has been some talk about the WPIAL going back to 4 classifications. It was not too long ago there were 4 classes and if you recall the same two or three teams in each class were in the finals every year, there were a significant amount of blowouts (now there is the mercy rule) and participation numbers at the schools that could not compete were very low. With four classifications, the entire WPIAL will once again become predictable and boring. All of the schools on the low number side, barely making into their classification will once again become the bottom feeders, get beat by 50 each week by the schools on the high number side and the kids, particularly multi-sport kids will just stop playing football. Look how many schools are relevant now that were doormats before the expansion to six classes (there are at least 12). Sports are not fun when there is no competition and nobody gets better when you win or lose by 50. There is more parity, excitement and less predictability with 6 classes.
Mike White
10:59
First, let's get something straight. It really isn't the WPIAL's decision whether to go four classifications. That's the PIAA's decision - and there ain't no way the PIAA is going back to four classifications. Now, if the WPIAL wanted to come up with a system to have four classifications for playoffs and then have six representatives for the PIAA playoffs, the WPIAL could do that. As for the six-class thing. There are many down sides to it. But I've said for years that the up side is it gives some teams a better chance to compete sometimes and have some success that normally struggle. And that's a good thing. The thing I hate is Class 6A football in WPIAL. Five teams. It's boring.
JP
10:59
TJ won it's 500th.game all time. Where does that put them on the WPIAL all-time list?
Mike White
10:59
Somewhere in the low 20s. Nowhere near the top.
CWill
10:59
Thoughts on Jake Wolfe and the Spartans?? We might be in store for one of the most electric offenses in the WPIAL right now. Do you see a change at Alliquipa next week.
Mike White
11:03
The big bad Wolfe has huffed and puffed and blown defenses in so far (ya like the Little Red Riding Hood reference, don't you?). 652 yards passing and 312 rushing in three games - and against some pretty good teams. Impressive. One of best dual-threat QBs so far. And now the big bad Wolfe has to go to Quip land. Should be interesting. But Aliquippa usually is terrific against the run. I hope it's a good game. We will have a person there covering the game.
Big Mark
11:04
Will the WPIAL go back to having a Catholic League, like other cities have? There are 7 or more Catholic schools in the WPIAL (North, SLS, Canavin, Serra, OLSH, GBCC, CC), which would be a bigger conference than 6A and a level recruiting playing field. Add in the other private schools and it could be a 10+ team league. This sounds like sour grapes to the schools that can recruit and cherry pick kids, but just to them. Parents should be able to send their kids where they want, however schools that recruit should have their own league. You do not have to look very hard at the scores each week and see the lopsided scores/difference recruiting makes. The WPIAL has a "competition rule" for dominant teams that rostering kids from only their district that they developed since youth football, but nothing for the schools that can recruit and control their numbers to stay in their classification. The city league had 11 schools of different sizes (Langley, Oliver were 1A and 2A playing Brashear and Dice 4A).
Mike White
11:06
If the WPIAL is going to have a Catholic League for football, then I'm Meek Mill. Forget it. It's not going to happen. It's quite clear by now that neither the PIAA or WPIAL will have separate leagues for Catholic or private schools. It would be awfully hard to do in WPIAL football anyway. Do you think small schools like OLSH, Serra, GCC, Bishop Canevin want anything to do with playing Central Catholic? C'mon.
Tired of talk abt Pine, Quips, WH, CC, Kasper
11:09
Who had easiest non conference schedule sitting with good records, which may be misleading?
Mike White
11:10
Waynesburg. They're 3-0 and good for those kids, after going winless in two of the past four seasons. Waynesburg hasn't won more than two games in a season since 2015. But they beat three Class 1A Tri-County South teams - Carmichaels, Jeff-Morgan and California. Enough said.
Guest
11:10
Penn hills and pine Richland game was a dog fight, I think pine deserves more respect than they get, also their quarterback kannan Huffman for showing lots of poise and making huge throws, props to dugger as well of course.
Mike White
11:13
Pine deserves more respect than they get? What cave have you been living in? Take off your green colored glasses. Pine was ranked No. 2 in Class 5A at the start of the season and No. 3 heading into the Penn Hills game. We at Post-Gazette still have them at No. 5 with a 1-2 record. As for Huffman, I'm not cuttind down the kid. But huge throws? He was 8 of 26 against Penn Hills. He did hit a couple passes late.
Ryan
11:13
Does Kiski win on Friday Vs Hampton the Cavaliers looked Good against Laurel Highlands especially Carson Heinle
Mike White
11:15
Nice win Sam Albert The Great against Laurel Highlands. But Laurel Highlands isn't exactly a juggernaut. Then again, Kiski should be happy with any win.
Mike
11:15
If 6 classifications is best for everyone. They need to lower the cut off for boys in grades 9-11 to get more teams in 6A. These schools are all big enough to compete in 6APine Richland, Bethel Park, Penn Hills, Penn Trafford, USC, Hempfield, North Hills, Shaler, Peters Township & North Catholic(since all catholic schools should play in biggest class because they recruit) what are you thoughts on that.
Mike White
11:20
The cutoff is done by the PIAA and takes into consideration the entire state. The problem is that there are many more bigger schools in eastern Pa. now. Here's how it works: Every two years the PIAA takes the enrollment of kids in grades 9-11 and divides the state into six classes. Let's say there are 600 teams playing football in the state. The top 100 enrollment-wise are 6A, the next 100 5A ... and so on. When 6A football started in 2016, the WPIAL had 13 schools in 5A. For things to change drastically, the PIAA would have to divide the state differently. And again, eastern Pa. has more bigger schools. There are 88 Class 6A teams in the state. 76 are in the east.
Nickythegricky
11:21
Would it be a problem merging the five 6A teams into the 5A classification somehow?.  I cannot see that it would be that difficult.
Mike White
11:22
You could. You could merge them into the same conferences for football, have them play each other in regular season and then break them out for playoffs. Might be more interesting. But four years ago, the WPIAL polled all schools and asked them about this idea. More than the majority were against it. So we have we have.
Next
11:22
Who is next to win 500 games ?
Mike White
11:22
Don't know.
TM
11:22
So many WPIAL football teams have smaller rosters these days. What do you think has contributed to less interest in football--fear of head injuries, 1 sport athletes, etc...?
Mike White
11:24
Well, actually I think shrinking rosters has bottomed out. I say that not only with anecdotal evidence, but also hard evidence. The National Federation of State High School Associations recently released its participation survey. The number of kids playing football rose last year slightly for the first time in maybe a decade. Pennsylvania's football participation stayed about the same. There are still some smaller schools that struggle with roster size, but it seems like rosters in Pa. might have bottomed out the past year or so.
11:26
On another note, I Tweeted this a little while ago. Great factoid from last night's Jets-Bills game. Jordan Whitehead, a Central Valley grad who played at Pitt, intercepted three passes for the Jets. The last Jets player to intercept three passes in a game was 17 years ago and, coincidentally, was a former WPIAL player. Named Ty Law. OK that's my factoid for the day, even though I can't take credit for knowing that.
11:28
And hey, how about this: The game I am going to and covering Friday is ... Southmoreland at Knoch. Can you believe it. I think they're both great stories. Hey why not go? They're both 3-0. I haven't covered a game at Knoch since the mid 1990s. And I was thinking of this the other day: I have never, ever, ever seen a Southmoreland football game. So it's a first.
Buckets
11:29
one of your favorite HS football uniforms in the WPIAL? Favorite Helmets?
Mike White
11:30
I'd have to think. No one's uniforms really stick out. Nowadays, most are stock uniforms from the big companies like Nike, adidas, Under Armour. As far as helmets, always gotta like the Wolverine look at Woodland Hills, Ellwood City, Canon-McMillan.
Pryor Auth
11:35
Looking at the Phil Jurkovac disaster on Saturday, the WPIAL hasn't produced a decent QB at the D1 level since Pryor. Agreed ?
Mike White
11:39
The number of WPIAL players at D1 level is down considerably at all positions. The numbers don't lie. Only 13 FBS recruits in class of 2022. Lowest ever. I said ever!!! Only 15 in 2020. Numbers are up in class of 2024. As for Phil, don't give up on him. But he doesn't play like he did in high school. I know, who does, right? But he's not as fast and athletic. He's a lot bigger. Goes 240 now. That has something to do with it. But maybe he just needs to extend plays, not run. You know, Kenny Pickett had some horrible games a few times at Pitt, too. This week's game huge for Pitt and Phil. Need to come through.
WPIAL Lifer
11:39
I'd have to give Wash High the nod for best performance in non-conference thus far. 3-0 vs. Monessen, Clairton and Serra with GCC this week. If they get past GCC, I don't see any challenges until K.O. and McGuffey late.
Mike White
11:41
Not bad. But Serra has been a little disappointing, Monessen is Class 1A. Nice win vs. Clairton, though. We now have Washington No. 1 in 2A. I don't see a real strong team in Class 2A, but I will also say this. Don't forget about Beaver Falls, despite the 1-2 record. Talent there. By the way, did you know Beaver Falls is using three QBs?
Derek
11:41
South Park @ Beaver on Friday. Both teams 3-0. Who ya got?
Mike White
11:42
That's a tough one. Coin is in the air and the winner is ... South Park.
Guest
11:42
Mike who do you like in 5 A ? Lots of possibilities there
Mike White
11:43
5A is a crap shoot. I wouldn't put anyone as the "definite" favorite. I think it was that way before the season. Penn Hills is currently ranked No. 1, but I have a feeling this Peters Township team is pretty dang good.
WPIAL Fan
11:43
Hi Mike. Curious about transfer rules within the Catholic High Schools.  If a student transfers from a small school like North Catholic or Seton La Salle to Central, do the same transfer rules apply as they would to public schools?  Many examples of student-athletes living near one small school winding up at Central.Thanks!
Mike White
11:44
Yes and no. You can transfer from a small private school to another private or Catholic school without moving. If you transfer to a public school, you have to reside in that district. But you can still be ruled ineligible if they feel you transferred for athletic intent. But that is hard to prove.
Kevin
11:44
How good is Shaler? Will they be able to compete against Penn Hills and Pine?
Mike White
11:47
I have not seen Shaler. Saw them once last year and I know they have much of that team back. Skill guys are experienced - and good. Smetanka, DeSabato, etc. I think key for them is line play. But I do think they can compete with Pine and Penn Hills. They lost to those two teams by 35-7 and 42-7 last year, but I think things will be different this year.
WPIAL Fan
11:47
What's going on up at Seneca Valley? Two lopsided losses to good 5A teams.
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